Folding Bikes
A bike, to most people, is a form of transportation that is easy to handle, but not so easy to carry around. In some cases bikes do not need to be "parked", they are just simply stored back in the garage away from plain sight. In others, a person may rely on using their bike all the time and have to worry on where to put it and how to store it. Well there is a solution to that, and its more simple that some may think. Folding bikes are an effective way to manage that problem with little or no effort. Thats right, that big bulky object called a bike can be folded to make your life easier. The most appeasing aspect of a folding bike is that it is stolen far less then a regular bike. This is because of the fact that the bike will actually be following you around, and you can keep an eye on it. This creates comfort knowing that you won't have to leave the office, or where ever your leaving, thinking "I hope it was not stolen today." One of the other big reasons these are becoming more popular is how portable it is. If you live in an apartment, sometimes a big piece of equipment is just not able to be carried in the elevator, and then crammed into your home day in and day out. Having a folding bike will not only maximize your space, but also make your home a bit more inviting. Once you have decided that you don't want to deal with the hassles of regular old bikes, it is time to find the right folding bike for you. Well the main thing that all these backs have in common is that, well, they fold. Some will fold differently to others and may take longer. The majority however will turn this......... http://www.transalt.org/features/images/folding/Birdy_small.gif into this........ http://www.transalt.org/features/images/folding/Brompton_folded_small.gif The difference between the two, as you can see, is great. Of course folding the bicycle will not make it any lighter. It will still weigh about the same, usually 22 to 30 pounds. There are multiple brands to choose from. Many will come with a "suitcase" to travel in, some are sold with it, and others sold separately. Bike Friday is a well known brand that offers performance above all else, and can be folded in 30 seconds. The Brompton, referred to as the "jaguar" of folding bikes, can be folded smaller than any other model. 60% of all folding bikes sold in the USA are made by Dahon. They are responsible for making the lightest folding bike in the world, weighing in at 20 pounds. The British Strida is one of the most remarkable looking bikes a person will ever see. It has a triangle frame, and folds into a 22 pound walking stick, that can be steered with the wheel. It has the fastest folding time, which is at 7 seconds, and a greaseless Kevlar belt drive that will never smudge your clothes. A picture unfolded.... http://www.transalt.org/features/images/folding/strida_small.gif A picture unfolded.... http://www.transalt.org/features/images/folding/strida_folded_small.gif An interactive quick picture that shows the process..... http://www.strida.com/demo/index.php Making your transportation worries smaller, and your apartment space less used is quite possible from this piece of equipment. These bikes can range from $250-$1000, but that depends on the individual performance of the bike itself. Your not only buying a bike, your buying comfort and space for your apartment.
